Electric push-button.



M. C. FRANK.

ELECTRIC PUSH BUTTON.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24. 1915.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

v\/EN7-0R MAXWELL C. F' ANK s'rn'rns PATENT curios.

MAXWELL C. FRANK, 0F PIEDMONT, CALIFORNIA ELECTRIC PUSH-BUTTON.

I Specification of Letters Iatent.

Application filed November 24, 1915. Serial No. 63,344.

to existing fixtures, without requiring the latter to be changed.

To this end, the invention consists in a button of transparent material, coated on its inner surface with a luminous substance, as a new article of manufacture. Also in a button of hollow glass, coated upon its inner surface with a luminous material, as a new article of manufacture.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan or top'view of an ordinary bell push button with my improvement applied thereto. I

Fig. 2, is a side elevation of Fig. 1 also showing the wall to which the device is secured.

Fig. 3, is a central cross section of the devices illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the luminous substance, a hollow core to hold it in position and the spring switch contacts'in elevation. V

Fig. 4" is a crosssection of a button, on a largerscale, the same being hollow and coated upon the inner surface with a luminous material.

Fig. 5 is a similar section, but the coating is in the form of a filling, which fills the hollow of the button and is retained therein by a closure for the opening or mouth of the hollow.

Fig. 6 is a similar section again, 'but shows the button with a flat top, and a ,core

:of sblid material filling the hollow, the

luminous coating being between the core and the material of the button.

Fig.7 shows a button with a glass .end,

. and the luminous material between the glass end and the body of the button.

In the figures 1 is the ordinary casing of an electric hell or light push, attached to a wall 2, and

housing the spring switch or contacts 3 and is provided with an aperture having its.

surrounding edge pro ecting inwardly to orm an inner shoulder therein. 4 is my finger touch or button, which is adapted to supplant the usual finger touch of vulcanite, or other material, which is non-transparent. My button is composed of a transparent or translucent material, such as glass or other suitable substances provided with an annular basal flange 5 engaging the inner shoulder, which retains it in place in the housing 1, and the hollow 6,-with the luminous substance 7 against the inner surface. The luminousv substance 7 may be a mere coating, as seen in most of the figures, or it may be in the form of a powder or other filling, which occupies the hollow 6 and contacts the inner surface thereof. In the latter case I prefer to close the mouth of the hollow with a closure 8, centrally projecting outwardly therefrom to form a central bearing face for the spring contacts 3, as shown in Fig. 5 which maybe of any suitable plastic solidifying material cast in place, and retained therein by the channel 9 which it also fills, and may be separated from the luminous substance by a washer 10 which is pressed centrally within the hollow 6 forming va concavo-convex holder, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the periphery of Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

the washer will form a tight fit around the inner side of the hollow 6 by compresslve force, thereby retaining it in position therein. In the form shown in Fig. 6, the hollow 6 of the finger touch 4 is filled by a core 11, corresponding to the closure 8, of

Fig. 5 or to the hollow core as shown in Fig. 3, and having the luminous substance between it and the material of which the push button is composed of. This core may be of any suitable material, such as porcelain, paper, hard rubber,'or the like.

As a modification, I have shown,'in Fig. 7, the body of the button formed of nontransparent material, with a'glass, or other transparent or translucent top 12, having the luminous substance 7 applied between the two.

Having thus described my invention, and an embodiment of it, in the full, clear and exact terms required by law, and knowing that itcomprises novel, useful and valuable improvements in the art to which it pertains, I here state that I donot wish to be limited to the precise construction andarrangement of the several parts, as herein set forth, as the same may be variously modified by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is the following, to wit:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a button comprising a hollow transparent body having an annular basal bearing flange formed integrally thereon, layers of luminous powder within said body and a washer adapted to hold said luminous powder therein.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a push button composed of a hollow cylindrical body, provided with luminous powder, a washer within said body secured in position ,therein by frictional engagement and adaptgd to hold said luminous powder within said 3. As a new article of manufacture, a finger touch, for a push button, composed of a hollow, transparent body, provided with an inner channel, luminous substance in said body, a sealing closure within said body, engaging said channel and adapted to hold said luminous substance therein.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a finger touch for a push button, comprising a hollow, transparent body, having a hemispherical shaped top, and a basal flange opposite said top, an annular inner channel within said basal flange, luminous substance in said body, a washer to hold said substance therein, and a sealing closure for said washer engaging said channel.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a push button composed of a hollow cylindrical body, provided with luminous substance, a washer forced into securing position within said cylindrical body, and adapted to Laeepsa compress said luminous substance and retain the same therein.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a finger touch for a push button, comprising a hollow transparent body integrally closed at its top and open at its bottom end, a basal bearing flange on said body around its open end, a luminous substance in said body, a sealing closure for said open end projecting spherically outward from said basal flange forming thereby a bearing face and adapted to hold said luminous substance therein.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a casing provided with an aperture having its surrounding edge projecting downwardly to form an inner shoulder, a push button in said aperture consisting of a cylindrical hollow transparent body, closed at its top end and open at its bottom end, a basal bearing flange on said body engaging said inner shoulder, layers of luminous material within said body, a washer adapted to hold said luminous material and means to retain said washer in position within said body.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a finger touch for a push button, comprising a hollow transparent body having a closed top, a basal flange on said body opposite said closedtop, a luminous substance in said body and a central-pressed washer forming a concavo-convex shaped holder for said luminous substance and means to secure said holder within said body.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing l have hereto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses, this 10th day of November, 1915.

MAXWELL C. FRANK.

Witnesses:

R. Manon WOLFE, L. A. Aitviis. 

